Case which can be transformed into a table



March 8, 1938. "P. DENORMANDIE I 2,110,791

CASE WHICH CAN BE TRANSFORMED INTO A TABLE Fil'ed Aug. 1, 1936 l atented Mar. 8, 1938 PATENT OFFICE 2,110,791 CASE WHICH C'AN B1 TRANSFORDIED INTO ABLE Paul Denormandie, Paris, France Application August 1, 1936, Serial No. 93,903 In Luxemburg August 3, 1935 1 Claim. 7

It is known that persons who want to make a picnic make use of folding tables on the one hand, and on the other hand of suitable cases or boxes which may even be combined with the tables, but which have the disadvantage that they can be unfolded so as to be set as tables only after the articles normally contained in the case or box have been removed therefrom. This involves a loss of time and even a risk of injury of said articles.

On the other hand, it is also known that the work of persons having to check up certain apparatus or circuits in shops or factories is generally awkward, because these persons often do not find any place where they could put their measurement apparatus, which they carry in a case which is both cumbersome and heavy.-

The object of the present invention is to provide a case or box for carrying objects, adapted to constitute a rolling table permitting the easy use of the tools or apparatus, or the show of the goods carried in said case or box.

This case is constituted by a body forming a receptacle, a lid forming at the same time the upper part of the table, four jointed feet hidden in the case when the latter is closed but adapted to support the lid when the table is unfolded, and sets of wheels or rollers carried by the feet and brought into active position only when said feet 30 are pivoted so that the case is transformed into a table.

In a particular embodiment of the invention these feet or legs are connected by pairs by two cross members, and they are fitted, at their lower ends, with rollers or shoes which permit of easily moving the table. These legs are adapted to pivot through an angle of 90 about two horizontal spindles rigidly fixed to the body of the case. In one of their extreme positions, these legs are fully 40 enclosed in the case, owing to the special arrangement of the parts, which enables a pair of legs and their cross member to fit between the two other legs and under the cross member corresponding thereto. In the other extreme posi- 45 tion, these legs are disposed vertically, being then rigidly maintained by means of a latch or any other fixation means. The movement which corresponds to the rising of the upper ends of the legs, causes their lower ends to project from the 50 base of the case, which is thus lifted above the ground.

The lid is fixed to the longer of the two cross members, through hinges permitting a rotation through an angle of 270. When the legs have been fixed in their vertical position, the lid is pivoted about its hinge so as to be brought into horizontal position, the upper face being then the under face of the lid when the latter is applied against the case in the closed position.

The end of the lid opposed to the hinge lies upon the other cross-member, to which it is rigidly fixed by means of screws or any other means ensuring the rigidity of the whole.

These and other features of the present invention will result from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be hereinafter described, with reference to the accompanying drawing, given merely by way of example, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a case according to the invention, shown in the unfolded position, in which it acts as a table;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the case in the folded position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line III-III of Fig. 1.

The body I of the case, made of any suitable material, is fitted with two horizontal spindles 2 about which are pivoted the legs 3 of the table. Said legs are so shaped, as shown by Fig. 3, that they can pivot in the direction of arrows F without being interfered with by the ends 4 of the case. Between partitions 5 extends the space 6 for the articles to be carried by the case. 7

In order to ensure the rigidity of the whole when the case is used as a table, legs 3a and 3b are connected together by cross-members Illa and mo. In the closed position, cross members Illa and 10b bear upon the chamfered portions Ha and llb provided in partitions 5, at the ends thereof.

At the lower ends of legs 3a, 31), close to their pivots 2, there are fitted rollers or shoes l2 owing to which the case, once transformed into a table, can be displaced without difficulty.

In order to keep legs 3a, 3b in vertical position, when the case is used as a table, I provide hooks l3.

Finally, the case is fitted with holders l4 permitting to carry it easily.

This device will operate in the following manner:

The articles to be carried being placed in the free space 6, it sufiices to grasp lid 9 with the hand, and to pull it upwardly, whereby legs 3a are caused to pivot about their spindle 2. When the legs 3a have been brought into the position shown by Fig. 1, the lid 9 is pivoted about its hinge 8, in a direction opposed to that in which legs 30; have been precedingly turned. It then sufiices to pivot legs 31:) about their spindle 2, so that they can support the other end of the lid, opposed to that hinged at 8 to legs 3a.

The objects carried in space 6 can then be removed so as to be put on the table.

It should be noted that all the movable elements of the case are pivoted and kept in either of their two positions without requiring assembling members the absence of which might impair the strength of the whole.

In a general manner, while I have, in the above description, disclosed what I deem to be practical and efiioient embodiments of the present invention, it should be well understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention as comprehended within the, scope of the accompanying claim.

What I claim is:

A portable case adapted to be transformed into a rolling table, comprising a rigid body portion and a movable top portion, four lever arms normally hidden within the case, each located at a corner of the case and each pivotally connected adjacent one end to one of the opposite lateral walls of the case for movement from a hidden position extending above the top of the case, openings at the bottom of the case, the said pivots being located so that said ends of said lever arms will project through the bottom of the case in said latter position, transverse spacing bars connecting the other ends of the opposite lever arms at each end of the case, a hinged connection provided between one edge of the movable top portion and one of said spacing bars, rollers normally hidden within the case mounted upon the lower portion of said levers, said rollers upon movement of the levers to extended position automatically lifting the same above the floor level.

PAUL DENORMANDIE. 

